Buckle



March 9, 1937. V HE|NZE 2,072,949

BUCKLE Filed July 9, 1934 17 .Zimfzzian Patented Mar. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE Paul Heinze, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Parva Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 9, 1934, Serial No. 734,260

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a buckle and has special reference to a buckle adapted to be adjustably associated between detachable elements for supporting or securing articles particularly about the person.

More particularly, this invention relates to a buckle comprising preferably a sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses 10 thereon for receiving a gripping bar preferably formed as a part of a loop through which the strap may be threaded, the loop having a portion thereof preferably pivotally mounted on a support attached to the article and another portion interchangeably received in the strip recesses for preventing longitudinal displacement of the strip relatively thereto and to the support.

The device hereinafter to be described more in detail is adaptable for use with various types of objects particularly on the person and may be employed with slight variations not departing from the spirit of the invention almost universally where detachable connections are desired to be made. However, for purposes of illustration the slide buckle will hereinafter be described and is shown in the drawing in its association with a pair of shoes, the sheet metal strip being attached to one side at the opening into the shoe and the support for the loop being attached to the other side at the opening into the shoe. It is, of course, to be understood that various applications of this invention may be had and that the construction is adaptable for use particularly on bands for wrist watches, belts and straps for the support of garments, and the like, so that the illustration and description are mainly for the purpose of teaching an embodiment of the invention.

Applicant contemplates particularly the provision of a buckle of such a construction that will enable the ready detachment of separable members employing material of substantial thickness that are not readily flexible. In the usual buckle provided with sharp projecting prongs or members which pass through the belt, the latter is, of course, held positively against slipping, but the appearance of the belt, after substantial use, is at least not pleasing. Where the strap or belt is gripped by other than sharp projecting prongs or the like, the belt is not ordinarily held positively against slippage so that in both instances either the appearance of the belt is not agreeable or the function thereof is impaired.

In the present invention, applicant provides an ornamental appearance which is substantially everlasting and obtains a desired utility, one or the other of which is lacking in the above generalized prior art constructions.

The sheet metal strip of the present invention is attached to an article to be secured and is preferably corrugated, the corrugations extending transversely of the strip. The member for association with the strip is preferably in the form of a closed loop having spaced arms, one of which arms is pivotally supported in a bearing provided by a projection from a support, which latter is 10 attached to the article to be secured, and the other of which arms engages interchangeably the corrugations of the strip. The bearing of the support has a preferably polygonal aperture to receive the arm of the loop, which latter is simi- 15 larly polygonal in cross section, this pivotal construction providing a frictional resistance against the movement of the loop so as to prevent longitudinal displacement of the strap relative to the support when in an engaged position. 20

To operatively associate the above described members, the sheet metal strip is threaded through the opening of the loop when the loop is in one position, the loop moving to an engaged position with the free arm engaging one of the 25 corrugations of the strip so that in its normal engaged position the strip is held between the support and the gripping bar of the loop. The frictional resistance afforded by the bearing above described maintains the engaged relation 30 of the gripping bar in the recess so as to prevent displacement of the strap in a longitudinal direction.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a buckle of the character above described in 35 which a substantially everlasting ornamental appearance is obtained therein and in which the utility of the buckle is not impaired thereby.

A further object of this invention is to provide a buckle of the type noted above in which the 00- 40 operating members may be readily adjusted in either direction,

A still further object of this invention is to provide a buckle of the type indicated above in which the cooperating clamping portions are 45 fixed to the supported or secured members and have relative adjustment and detachable engagement between the clamping portions independent of the supported or secured members.

It is also the object of this invention to provide 50 a buckle of the character hereinbefore referred to in which the construction may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, may be durable and simple in construction, and may be simple in threading and in manipulation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter be more fully described and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the buckle embodied in this invention as incorporated for use on a pair of shoes;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the buckle showing its attachment to portions of the side of the shoe adjacent the opening thereinto;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 3, showing a fragmentary portion thereof with the gripping bar shown in a changed position in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View similar to Fig. 4, showing a fragmentary portion of the buckle illustrating the frictional resistance obtained in shifting the gripping bar in the bearing;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig.2, showing a modified form of buckle construction; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken on the line 11 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, thereof, the buckle of this invention is shown as comprising a preferably sheet metal strip in secured at one end thereof as by means of a rivet, or the like, to a strap H attached to one side at the opening into a shoe 12. A strap I3 secured to the other side at the opening into the shoe 12 extends in a direction toward the strap H to engage a support M, the latter being secured to the strap l3 by means preferably of spaced rivets l5, or the like.

The support 14 is preferably formed of a strip of resilient metal folded upon itself to provide a double thickness, the two layers being secured together at spaced points thereon preferably by means of the rivets [5 or other fastening means which may further serve the function of attaching the strap lit to the support. One of the thicknesses of material of the support l4 may be deformed at a portion between said spaced rivets l5 to provide an opening E6 of polygonal shape.

The sheet metal strip i0 is preferably provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses I! formed preferably by deforming the sheet metal into substantial corrugations in which the ridges of the corrugations form the side walls for the valleys or recesses. It is to be understood, of course, that the recesses may be provided in any usual manner, although for purposes of expediency and economy in manufacture together with simplicity of illustration in the present connection, but a single form is shown.

A pair of closed loops l8 and I9 have been illustrated in the drawing as cooperating between the support and a recess of the sheet metal strip to prevent longitudinal displacement of the strip relatively to the support, the arm 25 thereof, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, being received in the opening It provided by the deformation of the material of one of the thicknesses of the support and bounded on a fourth side of the other by the thicknesses of the support. The arm 2| of the loop I9 enters interchangeably a recess I! of the sheet metal strip if! to permit adjustment, the arm 20 permitting pivotal movement of the loop l9 to receive and to remove the arm 2| from a recess H. In the present embodiment, the loops l8 and I8 actuate in the same manner and, therefore, a description of one will suffice for the other.

The cross section of the material of the loops I8 and I9 is preferably of polygonal shape and the opening it provided by the deformation of a portion of the material of the support it preferably conforms substantially thereto. Since we have recited that the loops l8 and 19 may preferably have a pivotal movement to permit the engagement and disengagement thereof with the sheet metal strip, it is apparent that by reason of the polygonal shape of the bearing and pivotal portions, there will be a tendency to frictionally resist such movement. Such frictional resistance is very desirable in preventing the release of the gripping bar 2! from its cooperating recess. A pivotal movement, however, is permitted because of the resiliency of the material of the support l4 and the spacing of the rivets or securing members l5,

As shown more particularly in Fig. 5, the cross section of the pivotal bar 20 is square and conforms substantially to the opening I5. The normal position of the pivotal bar 2c in the opening it is shown in Fig. 4 with the gripping bar disposed either in the recess or in a fully extended position, which latter position is shown in dotted lines. In Fig. 5, a partial movement of the loop I9 is shown intermediate these two positions, the corners of the square section of the pivotal bar 20 extending the double thicknesses of the support Hi to permit such pivotal movement. The frictional resistance thus obtained prevents disengagement of the gripping bar 2! with the recess when in an engaged position and thus prevents longitudinal displacement of the strip relatively to the support. Further, the recesses formed on the opposite sides of the ridges between the recesses I! overlie the deformations for receiving the pivotal bars 20 so that auxiliary means is obtained to prevent longitudinal displacement of the strap.

In operating the buckle into an engaged condition, the sheet metal strip II] is threaded through the openings of the closed loops i8 and [9, which latter extend substantially at right angles to the support, whereafter the loops i3 and I9 are forced downwardly into a substantially parallel relation with the support to a position where the gripping bars 2| engage the recess H. The spacing of the bars 29 and 2! is such as to permit the engagement of the gripping bar 2| in the recess while the recess beneath the ridge portion of these corrugations may engage the deformation provided for the pivotal supports 20. The loops are held by the frictional resistance afforded by the polygonal cross section of the pivotal bars to prevent longitudinal displacement of the strap relatively thereto. Also, lateral movement is prevented by reason of the loops being closed.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 and "I, the loops 22 and 23 are shown as moving into an engaged position with the sheet metal strip 24 in a direction toward each other as differentiated from the previously described embodiment in which the loops [8 and I9 move into engagement with the gripping bar 21 in a direction away from each other. In the present embodiment, a greater amount of adjustment is had over the same number of longitudinally spaced recess portions for certain types of use, although where such substantial adjustment is not essential the form previously described is perhaps preferable. The operation and construction of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is the same excepting for the above noted difference and, therefore, a further detailed description is believed to be unnecessary.

It is, of course, to be understood that a single loop may be employed and that the loop need not be closed. Further, that any number of loops may be employed consistent with the use to which it may be desired and the loops may be moved into engagement with the recesses of the strip either in a direction toward each other, away from each other, or in the same direction.

Therefore, while two embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A buckle comprising a sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, a gripping element, and a support for attachment to said article, said strip having portions deformed from the material thereof to form a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses of polygonal cross-section and said gripping element being movably mounted on said support and being of substantially the same cross-section as said recesses to enter interchangeably said recesses for preventing longitudinal displacement of said strip relatively to said support.

2. A buckle comprising a sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, a loop having spaced arms for receiving said strip therebetween, a sheet metal support for attachment to said article, and resilient means forming a bearing on said support for .pivotally supporting one of said arms, said strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses thereon to receive interchangeably the other of said arms and said resilient means frictionally resisting movement of said first mentioned arm in said bearing for holding said last mentioned arm in engagement with one of said recesses for preventing longi- \tudinal displacement of said strip relatively thereto.

3. A buckle comprising a sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, a loop having spaced arms for receiving said strip therebetween, a sheet metal support for attachment to said article having an oifset portion forming a bearing for confining and pivotally supporting one of said arms, said strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses thereon to receive interchangeably the other of said arms and said oifset portion frictionally resisting movement of said first mentioned arm therein for holding said last mentioned arm: in engagement with one of said recesses for preventing longitudinal displacement of said strip relatively thereto.

4. A buckle comprising a sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, a loop having spaced arms of polygonal cross-section for receiving said strip therebetween, a support comprising a sheet metal strip folded upon itself to provide a double thickness and secured together to said article at spaced points thereon, one of said thicknesses being deformed at a portion between said spaced securing points to provide a bearing for receiving one of said spaced arms, said strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses thereon to receive interchangeably the other of said arms and said deformed portion frictionally holding said last mentioned arm in engagement with one of said recesses for preventing longitudinal displacement of said strip relatively thereto.

5. A buckle comprising a sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, a loop having spaced arms of polygonal cross-section for receiving said strip therebetween, a support comprising a sheet metal strip folded upon itself to provide a double thickness and secured together to said article at spaced points thereon, one of said thicknesses being deformed at a portion between said spaced securing points to provide a bearing of a cross section substantially the same as that of said arms for receiving one of said spaced arm's, said strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses thereon of a shape to conform to and to receive interchangeably the other of said arms and said deformed .portion frictionally holding said last mentioned arm in engagement with one of said recesses for preventing longitudinal displacement of said strip relatively thereto.

6. A buckle comprising a'sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, a pair of loops each having spaced arms for receiving said strip therebetween, and a support for attachment to said article, one arm of each of said loops being pivotally mounted on said support and said strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses thereon to receive the other arm of each of said loops interchangeably therein for preventing longitudinal displacement of said strip relatively thereto, said loops being moved in a direction toward each other for engagement with said recesses.

7. A buckle comprising a sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, a pair of loops each having spaced arms for receiving said strip therebetween, and a support for attachment to said article, one arm of each of said loops being pivotally mounted on said support and said strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses thereon to receive the other arm of each of said loops interchange-ably therein for preventing longitudinal displacement of said strip relatively thereto, said loops being moved in a direction away from each other for engagement with said recesses.

8. A buckle comprising a corrugated sheet metal strip for attachment to an article to be secured, the corrugations of said sheet extending transversely thereof, a gripping element for engaging interchangeably said corrugations, a support for said gripping element attached to said article, and a projection on said support providing a bearing for pivotally supporting said gripping element, said projection engaging one of said corrugations on one side of said strip and said gripping element engaging a corrugation on the other side of said strip to prevent longitudinal displacement of said strip relative to said support when in an engaged position.

' PAUL HEINZE. 

